Do you know what osteoporosis ACTUALLY is?Do you think it’s calcium loss?Needing to drink more milk?Hormones NOT in proper balance?‘Just in your genes’?

Actually no… “It is caused by an imbalance in bone remodeling, where bone reabsorption by osteoclasts exceeds bone formation by osteoblasts.” (Christenson RH. 1997 and also supported by Zarjou A et al, 2010)

Unlike the ‘Stop autoimmunity’ website assertion that ‘there’s a limited time that we can increase our bone mass’, we are continuously regenerating new bone. The bones we grow as children and young adults do not suddenly stop cellular growth and repair when we hit our 30s and 40s. Beyond continual repair and regeneration of bone, the bone marrow provides us with ongoing supplies of red blood cells and immune cells.

What one of the studies presented below raises, is that if we are struggling to make bone marrow, then perhaps our capacity to make new blood cells may be hindered. What do you think could be the underlying reason for this hindrance?

First, I want you to start thinking about how excess, unbound Iron FUELS the aging process. What happens to our IRON levels as we get to around 40?If we look at Figure 1 (slightly adjusted from the ‘Stop autoimmunity’ original source), we notice women’s bone density “suddenly” appears to decrease from the 40-50 age range.What do we know happens in the 40’s and 50’s for women? Menopause.Osteoporosis and menopause – what’s the link?What does this mean in the context of metabolism in the body? Suddenly women are accruing iron, not bleeding every month… the iron building up in their body is causing changes in the osteoblasts which prevents them from maintaining density. What does excess unbound iron cause in the body? Oxidative Stress.

Winding back a bit further, Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) such as superoxide and that pesky ‘oxidative problem child’ H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) SHOULD be neutralized by our natural antioxidant enzyme systems, however, in mineral dysregulated bodies, which are HIGH in unbound iron, LOW in bioavailable copper and magnesium, and with LITTLE antioxidant support in the body (let’s think of our ever-busy Ferroxidase, and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), if we do not have enough of the components in our antioxidant systems, we cannot neutralize these “Accidents,” that are called “Oxidants” that are ALSO called, Reactive Oxidative Species.

Cellular changes start to happen, let’s say… osteoblasts cannot keep up with recycling of the bones, and our Bones get weaker and less able to stay in balance.What should make you all uneasy about this is that there are FEW, IF ANY, articles that are published which note the changes & challenges in Iron metabolism and its KNOWN & WELL CHRONICLED impact on bone health and bone replacement – WHY is this not ROUTINE? WHY is this not shared or tested for?How many family members/friends have had their Iron investigated when also investigating osteoporosis?

There is overwhelming evidence in the research presented in Jia et al, 2012, “Ferric Ion Could Facilitate Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Resorption through the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species”.They present strong evidence around the diagnosis of Osteoporosis being clinically PROVEN to be from oxidative stress in the Bone Recycling Program. More papers are listed in the reference list below.

We already know from several past iron toxicity posts that Hormones are ruled by enzymes that RELY on minerals for activation in the body – so, if our adrenals aren’t working effectively (STRESS anyone?)… the body goes into a ‘backup mode’ and changes happen in the hormones (Estrogen Dominance so often rolls on in! And what is NOW known is that the Estrogen is NOT LOW, but simply NOT BIOAVAILABLE)

And what’s underlying these habitual, and all-too-common hormonal changes? Once again, Excess, Unbound iron!There is discussion in the paper by Jian J, Pelle E, Huang X., 2009, about the involvement of hormones, including Estrogen, in osteoporosis.“……In addition to Estrogen deficiency, abnormally high iron is a key cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis.”

So, are you telling me that if we have women experiencing Estrogen deficiency, then abnormally high iron is a key player in osteoporosis as a result? WHAT?! Hormones are related to bone density?

I would suggest considering the other ‘book end’ of Estrogen Dominance having an involvement there, too – as has been talked about extensively in past iron toxicity posts/discussions in MAG. Instead of obviously HIGH Iron by the definitions commonly used, we know that Iron stores are building, while the amount of ‘available’ & ‘usable’ Iron is dropping……. bioavailable copper and magnesium are bottoming out, and the true Iron levels are not obvious particularly because of the testing generally done by conventionally-trained practitioners.

More iron loading, more Estrogen Dominance problems, more drugs and synthetic hormones added to their body to “fix” the problem (i.e. “treat the Seats” of symptoms) and the sicker female folks get…

Huo Y et al, 2012 comment within their article “Excess iron is associated with various diseases including osteopenia and osteoporosis, which are closely related to the alternation of the endogenous estrogen level”. They talked about creating a mouse model by removing ovaries and then monitoring hemoglobin and serum iron (both decreased)… yet the Iron level in the liver and spleen tissue increased. Hepcidin was elevated in these mice too.

When was the last time your doctor tested your hepcidin levels If they were worried about anemia?Stick with me here a bit longer here… if Estrogen contributes to iron homeostasis, and we have a STRESSED OUT population of women who have been misled and misfed information about what is REALLY in their food, what is in their birth control pills, they have led a low-fat (i.e. LOW Retinol-A, LOW-bioavailable copper) diet, eaten less and less of the foods their parents (Mothers) and grandparents (grand-Mothers) ate…potentially more laden with sprays and processed food than previous generations…

You mean to tell me that when post-menopausal, there are signs that it’s likely more Iron will be stored via Hepcidin in the organs, while the amount of Iron in their Hemoglobin AND Serum drop……. WHAT?! Does this sound familiar to any of you reading along?

Not to mention that we have a population where more and more women are having symptoms of/or labels applied of estrogen dominance – SO many either being thrown into surgical menopause (often not keeping ovaries too!) or due to other imbalances…

Osteoporosis and retinol – how can it help?I have recently discussed the critical importance of Retinol in our bodies to help get the body moving Iron where it needs to go, getting our Bioavailable Copper increased, and so much more.We know that new blood cells are made within the bone marrow (or the cascade of cell creation is started there at a minimum). We are learning today that when there is high oxidative stress as iron increases in the body, that the regeneration of bone cells (osteoblast regeneration) is reduced.What else do the osteoblasts need to carry out the repair and regeneration?Three KEY Ingredients:1. Retinol-A (Vitamin A).2. Bioavailable copper.3. Magnesium.

Bloem, 1995 stated that ‘repletion with vitamin A was followed by regeneration of the bone marrow, disappearance of the Hemosiderin from the spleen and liver, and erythroblastic activity.’ That’s a BLOCKBUSTER SHIFT in the dynamics of bone activity,,,We have established above that there’s more Iron getting stored into many women’s livers and spleens from hormone imbalances, that with increased oxidative stress, there’s less osteoblast regrowth in the bones and less bone density… and now we are saying that retinol (vitamin A) intake from FOOD causes regeneration of bone marrow, reduction in the loading of iron in the spleen and liver, and increased cell production?NO WAY?!?What’s compounding these changes? “STRESSORS!” (from our VERY stressful modern day life, from the chemicals put into our bodies, food, inherited from our mothers/ grandmothers, from blue light bombardment, from expectations of mothers to be EVERYTHING to EVERYONE 24/7……..from excess, unbound IRON….. the never-ending process of creating Oxidative Stress keeps chugging it out!…)

Vitamin D, zinc and calcium supplementation – why aren’t these critical to bone strength as we keep getting told?We are already starting to see a picture on how come the RCP (Root Cause Protocol) ties in with reducing the chances of osteoporosis… reduce excess unbound iron, decrease oxidative stress via adrenal support and magnesium, increase bioavailable copper and retinol through food/whole food supplements, and we have our bases covered for the TRUE osteoporosis risk factors.

SO how about the Vitamin D (Hormone-D!), K2, zinc and calcium side of things?

We get K2, zinc and calcium from eating an ancestral diet which is as wide and varied as possible.

We get Hormone-D from sunlight and foods such as eggs and cod liver oil (both great sources of retinol – who would have thought??).

Calcium carbonate supplements (most commonly suggested) require 12 steps to metabolize them into a form we can actually use. Other than many of the population not having the energy/mineral reserves to deal with that, many of us are going to grind to a halt (think cement = calcium) if calcium is supplemented from anything except food

Supplemental Hormone D kills retinol/retinoic acid in our liver, eyes and elsewhere in the body, preventing it from being able to facilitate cellular regeneration, repair and renewal…… leading to a WEAKENING in bone strength and repair.

Excess hepatic iron disrupts the 25 (OH) enzyme (also mag dependent) – if we have excess iron in our liver….. and we don’t have enough magnesium…. we can’t carry out the transfer of Hormone D within the body – so it’ll test “low”.

What’s the biggest reason for insufficient zinc in the body? EXCESS unbound iron…

DID YOU KNOW: Magnesium from food and suggested supplemental sources helps the calcium to go where it’s needed?

We need bioavailable copper (Evans et al, 1970) and retinol to synthesize ceruloplasmin – And it turns out that Retinol-A is ABSOLUTELY critical to loading that ^^^^ Copper to ensure Ferroxidase (FOX) enzyme function (Barber & Cousins, 1987)If we have INsufficient Retinol-A, and a LACK of Magnesium and a LACK of Bio-available Copper, what happens? We don’t have enough ferroxidase function, and we are faced with Iron that is DYSREGULATED and prone to ACT OUT.

What else happens when we don’t have enough ferroxidase function?We build up excess stored iron, yet apparent low blood Iron (because the body wants to protect us from the massive oxidative stress that HIGH or HIDING Iron in the blood represents)… our adrenals get stressed out… we start to get any number of metabolic “conditions” kicking in – hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s… our doctors spin us into a panic and dish out More Iron, Vitamin-D and any number of other medications which ONLY compound & confuse these conditions!…

Now the way the RCP (Root Cause Protocol) looks at these things is dramatically different.Look at our EXPANDED list now!

What does all this REALLY MEAN? Just tell me HOW to reverse this osteoporosis risk……The research behind the RCP (Root Cause Protocol) has always been encouraging the consumption of whole foods, to obtain whole food vitamin c (to help with bioavailable copper), magnesium and adrenal support (to reduce stress on the body and provide important components for making Mg-ATP (energy)) and retinol (vitamin A)

The research shared today is emphasizing that this is the right path, and that if you want strong bones, low risks of fractures, and to reduce the chance of getting osteoporosis. DO THE PROTOCOL!